Rodebjer

Creating clothes has been Carin Rodebjer's calling for as long as she can remember. As a student at FIT, she sold some of her first pieces at Steven Alan and The Dressing Room (an old Soho boutique). "Those were just amateur things," she said. In 2001, no longer an amateur, she launched her namesake label, Rodebjer. Just last year, the Swedish native moved back to New York City. Adjusting to life in Manhattan was part of her inspiration for Spring. "I always hated nature when I was growing up; I lived on an island," she said. "But when I moved to the city, I started longing for it."

Serene images of the desert (which Rodebjer plastered on the wall of her tiny NYC studio) guided the color palette of peachy nudes and washed-out pastels, which she mixed with floral patterns and a cool scorpion motif. A watermelon-hued pencil skirt was covered in a print of the creepy-crawly creatures. As for the rest of the range, versatility was the focus. "There is a huge gap between what is shown on the catwalk and the commercial clothing that most people can afford," she said. "These things are accessible but have deeper value."

A tubular knit tank was paired with a set of silk shorts with a black fly print. The fit of a black pantsuit with a tuxedo jacket (one of this season's trends) was spot-on, as were a pair of embossed leggings shown with a sweater. Those are easy wardrobe staples for all sorts of women. But the collection's high point was something for the more daring girl: a long-sleeved top with a faux-fur panel on the shoulder and matching drop-waisted trousers. Rodebjer agreed to call that the "power suit."